Tuesday, September 7, 2010

So.... its the day after Labor Day. The first official day of "normal" season. Summer is over. Back To School flurry and novelty is definitely worn off. We even had our first possible sick day today, but being the stealth mom that I am, I put the kibosh on that real quick.

The reality of life is settling in like concrete today. We received several bouts of bad news over the last 7 days making the start of September like a gigantic sucker punch to the jaw. Situations and beliefs that I've had about my life and the lives of my friends and family are all crashing down around me. Life as we've known it is ending. The few places left were some naivete existed in my world are quickly being swallowed up. I am stuck in a whirlpool of unknowns were I am questioning what "normal" really is.

I've never been a big fan of "normal" -- isn't it just a setting on the dryer? I hear "typical" used frequently in its place and that somehow fits the bill, sometimes... but the changes ahead definitely won't be considered "typical," at least not for a few years.

I admit I'm scared. I'm not generally afraid of much, but the upcoming changes in my world are frightening. Perhaps because I feel like a pioneer into this new world. No one around me has gone this way before. At least not yet. This is where I can identify the passing away of my naivete, all the while quickly recognizing when it is still alive and well in others.

What does normal/typical look like?
What is a normal life expectancy?
What is a normal standard of living for college educated professionals?
What is a normal definition of success?
What is a normal definition of thriving?
What defines the middle class?
Does God fit in anywhere in normal?
Is normal the goal?